Global virtual supercomputer network created

The first global virtual supercomputer network, the LHC Computing Grid, has been launched at CERN, the world’s largest particle physics lab, in Geneva.

The Grid will tap into the processing power of computers worldwide–initially in 12 countries–to handle the 12 to 14 petabytes of data generated annually by the Large Hadron Collider particle accelerator in testing the Big Bang theory, starting in 2007.

Analyzing this massive amount of data will require the equivalent of 70,000 of today’s fastest PC computers.

“The Grid enables us to harness the power of scientific computing centres wherever they may be to provide the most powerful computing resource the world has to offer,” said Ian Bird, head of Grid deployment at CERN.

The Large Hadron Collider will collide protons and lead nuclei to unravel the fundamental laws of nature. It will be used by some 7,000 scientists from universities and laboratories around the world.